Supporting mum

[Hevava]

Hi All,

Not sure whether this is the right place to post but I suppose it's kind of relationship based!

I'm really worried about my mum. I'm fairly sure that she's suffering with depression and I found out yesterday that she's been self-harming by picking at scars on her arms and neck and not letting them heal. My parents are still married and living together but their relationship has broken down and I believe this has quite a lot to do with the way mum is feeling. They've had lots of problems in the past and have done several lots of counselling but seem unwilling to seek help together at the moment. So this leaves them as effectively civilised (at best) housemates.

Mum doesn't really have a network of friends and is very isolated, her family all living some distance away. She doesn't leave the house much except to go to work.

I'm really at a loss as to what to do. I've passed on information to her about free counselling that's available but she won't admit that she's 'bad enough' to seek proper help and has in the past just self-treated with St John's Wort tablets. She doesn't want to burden me with problems in her marriage because I love my dad too and feel stuck in the middle but I feel like I'm the only person who knows what's going on and if I don't help her then she's completely alone.

Its so awful and I don't know what else to do :-(

[Hevava]

Sorry, I've just realised this would've been better in the mental health forum...I will re-post over there

[Sortyourmakeupout]

No real advice just didn't want your post to go by.

You sound like the kind of daughter any mother would be proud to have.

Just let her know that you are there for her.

I wish you and your mum the best of luck.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

When I was worried about the mental health of a relative I contacted her GP, told them my concerns, and asked them to pay her a house-call. They did, made an assessment and she got treatment immediately. Maybe you could consider that?